Salish Kootenai College
Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology (SMET) Enhancement Program for
Recruiting and Retaining Minority Students

Salish Kootenai College (SKC) is a tribal college on the Flathead Indian
Reservation in western Montana that offers bachelor's degrees, associate's
degrees, and certificate programs. Therein included, SKC offers
associate's transfer degrees in the natural sciences and engineering and
provides education services to over 1,000 students of which greater than 75% are
from Native American and other minority groups.

The focus of this program is to
improve science, math, engineering, and technology (SMET) education at Salish
Kootenai College by initiating several key education enhancement activities that
are part of a long-term effort with the following six primary objectives:
1) enhance minority student interest and increase enrollment in the natural
sciences and engineering programs; 2) incorporate concepts, techniques and
skills related so space sciences and aerospace engineering into SMET curricula;
3) provide a forum for interdisciplinary exchange within SMET faculty-student
groups on topics related to aerospace sciences and NASA objectives; 4) foster
faculty and student research activities related to aerospace sciences and NASA
objectives; 5) generate community interest and awareness in this effort to
enhance SMET education and in space-related career options available through
completion of a natural sciences or engineering degree at SKC; 6) develop
4-year, bachelor's degree programs in the natural sciences, mathematics, and
engineering as student enrollment increases.